Creative Habitat

SKILL LEVEL: Easy

SIZE: 24 months (2 yrs), Child 4, Child 5-6, Child 7-8
Finished Chest 23 (26½, 29¾, 32¾) in. [58.5 (67.5, 75.5, 83) cm]
Finished Length 13 (14, 15, 17) in. [33 (35.5, 38, 43) cm]
Note: Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

CORRECTIONS: (applied Mar 22, 2007)

GAUGE:

STITCH EXPLANATION:

BACK
With A, cast on 60 (68, 76, 84) sts. Work in k1, p1 Rib for 1 in. [2.5 cm], end with a RS row. Purl 1 row, then work in Color Stripe Pattern until piece measures 12 1/2 (13 1/2, 14 1/2, 16 1/2) in. [32 (34.5, 37, 42) cm] from beg, end with a WS row.

Shape Neck
Continue in Color Stripe Pattern acr
oss 17 (20, 24, 27) sts. Join second ball of yarn and bind off center 26 (28, 28, 30) sts, work across remaining 17 (20, 24, 27) sts. Working both sides at same time, with separate balls of yarn, work even in pattern until piece measures 13 (14, 15, 17) in. [33 (35.5, 38, 43) cm] from beg. Bind off.

LEFT FRONT
With A, cast on 28 (32, 36, 40) sts. Work as for Back until piece measures 11 (12, 13, 15) in. [28 (30.5, 33, 38) cm] from beg, end with a RS row.

Shape Neck
Bind off 7 (8, 8, 9) sts. Continue working in pattern, AT THE SAME TIME, dec 1 st at neck edge every other row 4 times – 17 (20, 24, 27) sts. Work even in pattern until piece measures same length as Back. Bind off.

RIGHT FRONT
Work as for Left Front, reversing shaping.

SLEEVES
With A, cast on 32 (32, 36, 36) sts. Work k1, p1 Rib and Color Stripe Pattern as for Back, AT THE SAME TIME, increase 1 st each side every 4th row 8 (10, 8, 10) times, then every 6th row 4 (4, 6, 6) times – 56 (60, 64, 68) sts. Work even in pattern until piece measures 11 (12, 13, 14) in. [28 (30.5, 33, 35.5) cm] from beg. Bind off.

FINISHING
Sew shoulder seams.

Neckband
From RS with A and beg at Right Front, pick up 66 (70, 70, 74) sts around neck edge.
Row 1: Knit, dec 1 st at center back – (65, 69, 69, 73) sts.
Work in k1, p1 Rib for 1 in. [2.5 cm]. Bind off.

Buttonband
From RS with A, pick up 61 (65, 71, 81) sts evenly spaced along Right Front edge for boys or Left Front edge for girls.
Work in k1, p1 Rib for 1 in. [2.5 cm] Bind off.
Buttonhole Band
From RS with A, pick up 61 (65, 71, 81) sts evenly spaced along opposite Front edge and work 4 rows in k1, p1 Rib.
Buttonhole Row: K 1 (3, 2, 1), k2tog, yo, *k 12 (12, 14, 17), k2tog, yo, rep from *; end k 2 (4, 3, 2). Bind off. Mark Front and Back edges 5 1/2 (6, 6 1/2, 6 3/4) in. [14 (15, 16.5, 17) cm] from shoulder seams. Sew Sleeves between markers. Sew Sleeve, underarm and side seams. Sew buttons opposite buttonholes.

ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES
beg = begin(s)(ning) dec = decreas(e)(s)(ing)
k = knit k2tog = knit 2 together
p = purl RS = right side
st(s) = stitch(es) WS = wrong side
yo = yarn over